FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 4, 2020

 

CONTACT
Dennis Schmidt, Director of Butte County Public Works 530.538.7681

Erik Gustafson, Public Works Director, City of Chico 530.894.4202

 

BUTTE COUNTY AND CITY OF CHICO TO CLOSE HUMBOLDT ROAD TO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC BETWEEN STILSON CANYON ROAD AND HIGHWAY 32 STARTING THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2020 AT 10AM

 

BUTTE COUNTY, CALIF.—  In an effort to reduce the amount of illegal activity along Humboldt Road, including illegal dumping, illegal camping, illegal fires and crimes against people, the Butte County Department of Public Works and the City of Chico Public Works Department plan to close Humboldt Road to all vehicular traffic, between Stilson Canyon Road and Highway 32 on September 10, 2020 at 10am.  This closure is planned to be temporary, for up to 18 months, then reviewed again to determine the effectiveness.

 

Gates have been installed both at the lower (City of Chico) location as well as the upper (Butte County) location.  Property owners, utilities and emergency service vehicles will continue to have access through the locked gates, as will bicycles and pedestrians. 

 

All work is being performed in strict conformance with State and Local COVID-19 social distancing rules and hand sanitization guidelines, with the goal of keeping our critical infrastructure repairs moving forward.

 

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 20, 2020


BUTTE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS TO APPOINT NEW CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

OROVILLE, CALIF.--The Butte County Board of Supervisors has selected Andy Pickett to fill the position of Butte County Chief Administrative Officer upon Shari McCracken’s retirement this fall. The Board will consider a contract with Pickett at the August 25, 2020 Board Meeting.
“Andy is an excellent choice for the position of CAO; he is familiar with the current challenges Butte County is facing, and I am confident he will be an effective and compassionate leader,” said Steve Lambert, Chair of the Butte County Board of Supervisors. “His experience working closely with Butte County Departments, as well as managing complex projects and challenging budgets will be of great value in his new role.”
Pickett started his career in local government 25 years ago as an Analyst for Sonoma County. Pickett accepted the position of Deputy Administrative Officer for Butte County in 2008, where he has spent the past 12 years working cooperatively with elected officials, staff and stakeholders to preserve and enhance the quality of life in Butte County.
“Butte County is my home, and I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to serve as Butte County’s CAO,” said Pickett. “We have a very talented and dedicated staff that I have enjoyed working with for the past 12 years and am looking forward to continuing to work with as we navigate current challenges and identify innovative solutions to address the needs of Butte County residents.”
Pickett has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in International Affairs from Sonoma State University and a Masters of Public Administration from University of San Francisco. Pickett will be appointed to the position of Chief Administrative Officer on October 1, 2020. 
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2020
KNIFE RIVER CONSTRUCTION TO START WORK ON ORO BANGOR HIGHWAY EMERGENCY RELIEF REHABILITATION PROJECT ON AUGUST 24, 2020
BUTTE COUNTY, CALIF.--The Oro Bangor Highway Emergency Relief Rehabilitation Project will provide for milling of existing asphalt concrete, cement treating the existing roadway section, placement of new hot mix asphalt, installation of new storm drain facilities, installation of shoulder backing and thermoplastic striping.  Total project length is 6.59 miles, and extends from Miners Ranch Road to La Porte Road. This repair work will remedy damage caused from the emergency response for the 2017 Oroville Dam Spillway Incident.
Traffic control will be in place during construction operations starting August 24, 2020, through October 30, 2020.  Work hours for traffic control will be 7am to 5pm daily.  Motorists should expect up to 15 minute delays during construction, and are urged to use caution while passing through the work zones and to use alternate routes if possible.  
All work is being performed in strict conformance with State and Local COVID-19 social distancing rules and hand sanitization guidelines, with the goal of keeping our critical infrastructure repairs moving forward. 
The Butte County Public Works Department has been serving its residents since 1850, providing cost effective roadway maintenance services.  The Department maintains approximately 1,300 miles of roadways, over 500 bridges and drainage structures and more than 18,000 road signs.  
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 18, 2020

KNIFE RIVER CONSTRUCTION TO START WORK ON LA PORTE ROAD EMERGENCY RELIEF REHABILITATION PROJECT ON AUGUST 24, 2020

BUTTE COUNTY, CALIF.--The La Porte Road Emergency Relief Rehabilitation Project will provide for removal and replacement of damaged pavement sections with asphalt dig-outs along with placement of a hot mix asphalt overlay, shoulder backing and thermoplastic striping.  Total project length is 0.70 miles, and extends from Oro Bangor Highway to 0.70 miles southerly. This repair work will remedy damage caused from the emergency response for the 2017 Oroville Dam Spillway Incident.
Traffic control will be in place during construction operations starting August 24, 2020, through September 25, 2020.  Work hours for traffic control will be 7am to 5pm daily.  Motorists should expect up to 15 minute delays during construction, and are urged to use caution while passing through the work zones and to use alternate routes if possible.  
All work is being performed in strict conformance with State and Local COVID-19 social distancing rules and hand sanitization guidelines, with the goal of keeping our critical infrastructure repairs moving forward. 
The Butte County Public Works Department has been serving its residents since 1850, providing cost effective roadway maintenance services.  The Department maintains approximately 1,300 miles of roadways, over 500 bridges and drainage structures and more than 18,000 road signs.  
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 15, 2020

BUTTE COUNTY LIBRARY TEMPORARILY OPEN FOR LIMITED SERVICES

Butte County, Calif. – As Butte County continues to experience a prolonged period of extremely hot temperatures, Butte County Library branches will temporarily open for limited services.
Chico and Oroville branches will open Sunday, August 16 and Monday August 17 for the public between the hours of 11AM and 6PM.
All branches (except Biggs) will be open from 11AM to 6PM beginning Tuesday, August 18, and continuing through Saturday, August 22. 
Library patrons will be able to browse and read books in the library, while escaping the heat. Library patrons will be requested to limit their time at the library to 30 minutes. Social distancing measures will be in place, and library patrons will be required to wear face coverings. 
In addition to opening some branches for temporary use in the coming week, library branches will reopen with limited services in place for the rest of the summer beginning Tuesday, August 25, in accordance with the State Library’s Guidance for local libraries.  
Beginning August 25, 2020, Butte County Library branch hours are as follows: 
• Biggs Branch: Tuesday Noon-6PM and Saturday 10AM-4PM
• Chico Branch: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-4PM
• Durham Branch: Tuesday-Wednesday Noon-6PM, Thursday-Friday 10AM-5PM
• Gridley Branch: Tuesday-Wednesday Noon-6PM, Thursday-Saturday 10AM-4PM
• Oroville Branch: Tuesday-Saturday 10AM-4PM
• Paradise Branch: Tuesday and Thursday 1PM-6PM, and Saturday 11AM-4PM

To comply with COVID-19 reopening guidelines, and for the safety of library staff and patrons, social distancing measures will be in place. Library patrons are required to wear face coverings, in accordance with California Department of Public Health face covering guidance, and will be requested to keep their library visit to 30 minutes or less. Computer facilities, sitting furniture, and in person programs will remain suspended until further notice. 
Butte County Library e-resources are available 24/7. Register for a library e-card to access the online library.  Butte County Library staff members are available by phone at 530.552.5652, Tuesday through Saturday from 10AM-5PM. Library programs and online services are available on the Butte County Library website and Facebook page. Butte County Literacy Services can be reached by phone at 1.888.538.7198, Tu